Last week 152 dancers were cut down to 77. For the fourth choreography round, they were taught a jazz routine by Laurie Ann Gibson, who was added to the choreographer line-up last year. I personally never cared for any of her routines, and she was a total harpy to the group in this episode. She actually screamed at one kid who asked a question, "The audacity of you trying to ask me a question like that." Um, Laurie Ann? Here's a great big Fuck You for your trouble. I know Mia Michaels. You are no Mia Michaels. What a diva....

Cuts from the jazz round included Matthew, of Karen & Matthew, one of the dancing couples to make it to Vegas, who totally embarrassed himself during the routine. Nigel got into the nasty act, and also took a bunch of the dancers to task for blowing the number. Russian ballroom dancer Yvetta ended up getting cut (sadness), as did the last surviving member of the same-sex dancing couple that made it to Vegas.

Doing well were krumper Russell, who denied having any formal dance training (Adam Shankman said that didn't seem possible, given how well he was doing), and Mollee Gray was critiqued by Nigel for dancing too much like girl, and not enough like a woman. The poor girl probably hoped she could just dance at all, since she jacked up her foot during the jazz round, and although she tried to stay chipper and hide it, the pain got so bad that she eventually had to be taken to the hospital. Uh oh.

And then: GROUPS! Oh, I love group rounds, in both this show and "Idol." The drama they produce is usually like crack. Sadly, this bunch didn't really prove fruitful in that regard, and the editors hurried through most of the numbers. Krumper Russell was paired with four contemporary dancers, including Paula, who I believe made Vegas last year and was TERRIBLE in her group number then. They pulled a Broadway tune, and their choreography seemed awfully simplistic and boring to me, at least until they got to the kickline. But the judges loved it. Nigel thought it was inventive and creative. Really? I...have seen all of those moves before.

We saw brief flashes of groups that ranged between awesome and terrible, and a bunch of folks got cut.�The final group featured Mollee, who caused a little stress because she came in from the hospital two hours after the rehearsals started. She had a really bad sprain, and she resented the group babying her and relegating her to a chair for most of the routine. I thought they incorporated her injury into the routine in a smart way at the beginning, but then it became really hokey and vaguely stripperish on Mollee's part. Nigel told them that they cheated it, but her entire group escaped elimination.

And then it was time for contemporary with Mia Michaels, which had all the dancers running scared. But Mia was all zen and shit, encouraging meditation, hugging, thanking one another, etc. It was weird. Hip-hopper Kevin, who made Top 40 in S3, blew the judges away with his technique, and it was lovely, but it did seem to me that he wasn't quite with the rest of his group. Regardless, he was through. Also through: Billy Bell, krumper Russell, Mollee Gray, some other people I don't know.

Hip-hopper Legacy was once again struggling with the routine, and spouted some BS about lacking technique but bringing heart. After dancing passably, I would say, he approached the mic and told Mia that her movement changed him, and he said that he wanted to learn more of her style. He was through to the next round, and Mia said that the judges loved that he let go of himself and really went for it. But 11 others got cut.

Final round of choreography was Broadway by Tyce Diorio. I used to just hate Tyce, but he really upped his game last season. For this routine he separated the group into boys and girls. Pauline Matta was in final rehersals when she landed on her foot wrong, and her ankle swelled up like a tennis ball (it looked PAINFUL). Bianca Revels made it through Broadway round this year, as did Mollee Gray. Married ballroom dancer Ashley had been struggling throughout the week, but she kicked all kinds of ass in this round, and Nigel said she was the most improved dancer through Vegas Week. By the end 17 girls had made it through all the choreography challenges, and then there was a rally inappropriate bikini montage to "Good Girls Gone Bad." Oh, show. You're better than that.

Boys' turn, to Billy Joel's "Still Rock N Roll To Me." Ashley's impossibly hot husband, Ryan, danced with his shirt open, exposing every last inch of beefcake he has on his strapping chest and six-pack abs and...I'm sorry. I blanked out there for a minute. The thing is, the dancing didn't wow me, but the routine seemed pretty blah anyway. Ryan made it through. Please let him be in the Top 20, and please let him be shirtless for the duration.

Dominic Pearson, who got taken out in Season 4 due to an injury right at the end of Vegas Week, was back and feeling good. But he totally biffed the choreography, and at the end faked falling off the stage. And that meant he got cut, and he did not take the news well at all, falling into a crying heap. Debbie Allen told him it wasn't the end of the world. And then Nigel chastised him for his weepiness. Dude, Nigel was an asshole this episode. But Dominic was kind of asshole too, so, whatever. Six more guys got cut, but again, I couldn't tell you who they were.

By the end of the choreography rounds, 38 dancers remained, including Pauline, who was back from the hospital and didn't get a sense of where she stood. Then the dancers each got one more chance to do a solo. Billy Bell fucking killed it, with a really joyful contemporary solo that made Adam actually cry. Man up, Adam! But seriously, the kid's solo was insanely good. We then got a montage of solos that looked pretty good as well. We definitely seem to have some legitimate hip-hoppers this season, which is a major improvement over S5.

Next week: The Top 20 revealed. I would like to add that I think the scheduling this season - mostly one episode per week -- has totally robbed the show of its momentum, and could be contributing to the ratings dip. This show started the first week of September, and we're not going to get to voting until at least the final week of October. That is madness. Not even "Idol" drags on this long.